The first race car developed by BMW Motorsport from the ground up, the 3.0 CSL was designed to dominate the European Touring Car Championship, earning the nickname “Batmobile” for its distinctive aerodynamics and large rear wing. Beginning with a 1975 BMW 3.0 CS, this E9 was transformed over an 18-year period into a CSL Group 4 tribute by one of the founding members of the Genesee Valley Chapter of the BMW Car Club of America. Performance highlights include a Hartge H6SP high-compression engine with Kugelfischer mechanical fuel injection, STAHL headers, custom Bilstein suspension, Porsche 993 RSR brakes, and a Getrag gearbox from an E12 BMW 535i. Displayed at the Saratoga Auto Museum alongside the #25 factory race car that inspired it, this build also won the Youngtimer Award at the Amelia Island Festival of Speed in 2019. Acquired by the current owner in 2021 and stored inside a climate-controlled garage since, this enthusiast-built CSL tribute features rare period motorsport upgrades and exceptional craftsmanship, offering the experience of one of BMW’s most iconic Touring Cars. It is now being offered for auction out of New York. Click here to view the previous PCARMARKET listing.
This E9 has been refinished in Chamonix White (085) complemented by hand-painted BMW Motorsport livery showcasing the iconic red, purple, and blue stripes, period-correct sponsor logos, and racing numbers inside the classic BMW roundels. The recreated Group 4 aerodynamic kit includes a widened front air dam, extra-wide front and rear fender flares, a rear roof spoiler, a rear decklid spoiler, and a large rear wing. The E9 incorporates some of BMW’s most iconic styling elements, including the classic four-headlight grille and signature “Hofmeister kink” c-pillars. It rides on lightweight Fikse PROFIL-5S wheels clad in Pirelli racing slicks that are recommended for replacement due to age. This example is noted to have been used exclusively for display and concours events ever since the restoration. Upon the seller’s acquisition, custom front brake rotors with blue finished hats were installed. Detailed images are provided in the gallery.
Inside, the cabin has been completely stripped out and fitted with racing equipment including a full FIA-spec roll cage, FIA-approved Sparco Circuit racing seats with matching harnesses, kill switches for the fuel pumps, and a fire suppression system. A three-spoke leather steering wheel with a quick-release hub sits ahead of a white and blue painted dashboard, which houses black-faced instrumentation including an 8k-RPM tachometer and gauges for oil pressure, oil temperature, coolant temperature, and battery voltage. The matching blue center console houses a tall anodized blue shifter, pushbutton ignition, and rocker-style switches for the fuel pumps, lights, wipers, and engine cooling fan.
This Group 4 CSL tribute is powered by a high-compression H6SP 3.5L inline-six engine built by renowned German tuning company Hartge, which features 328 cams, a Hartge cylinder head, Hartge pistons, aluminum rocker arms, and STAHL headers connected to a straight-piped exhaust. It also includes an extremely rare Kugelfischer slide valve mechanical fuel injection system, found in the BMW M1, which draws fuel from a racing fuel cell with dual primary and secondary pumps. The seller notes a custom Fuel Safe fuel cell was installed, the fuel injection pump was rebuilt, and new fuel pumps and filters were installed. The front crossmember has been modified to achieve better weight distribution and provide clearance for the 6 individual throttle body trumpets. This engine is said to produce upwards of 400 HP and features an 8k-RPM redline. Power is sent to the rear wheels through a Getrag 265 5-speed manual transmission sourced from an E12 535i, which features a heavy-duty clutch and lightweight flywheel. Braking is handled by Porsche 993 RSR calipers paired with custom front rotors and stainless-steel brake lines. The suspension features externally adjustable custom valved Bilstein shocks and adjustable springs up to 400 lbs. All rubber suspension components have been replaced with polyurethane bushings from AKG Motorsports.
This sale will include a clean title.
Comments (9)
@cunfewzed Hahaha! Life is short and precious. Need to enjoy every minute. It’s easier to ask for forgiveness than permission!
This is the only time in my life I've lusted after a BMW. Gorgeous car. Thinking about how to pitch this one to the wife....
@CarreraKB Thank you for the compliment.
This is the finest build I have ever seen , it would deserve a showing at the amelia island concours.
Bid in the amount of $10,000
Bid in the amount of $1,000
@IMurray21 Thank you for your questions and comment. This car was on BaT. It was not sold. I am the same owner.
Good morning everyone. Thank you for visiting my auction. This CSL is an amazing car! My friend built this vehicle and I have seen it come together over the years. The paintwork is incredible. All the "M" colors are painted on the car then clear coated. Please feel free to click the "contact seller" button for any questions and I will respond as quickly as possible.
What is the history here - this was RNM on Bat a year ago then rumored to have been sold in May - is this the same owner still just back on the market?